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.

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On Outback Opal Hunters... Keys!

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..the Fire Crew... Someone's in a tenement where they shouldn't be.

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..battle suspected thieves... This is all under tenement.

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..in their hunt for opal worth 500 times more than gold.

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Oh, no! The Cooke Brothers' quest...

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Black opal. That's what we're here for - the real stuff.

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..gets a new partner... I'll paid for the claims.

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I'll pay for the excavator to come in and do all the hard work.

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..and comes to a grinding halt. SAM: No!

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The Young Guns' inexperience...

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Being underground, things can be dangerous.

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Hey! ..causes a near-fatal accident.

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Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE
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So, Jay, what's the plan for today?

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I'd like to pull some colour out.

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Hopefully, we can pull out a bit more seam.

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We definitely need a bit more of a pay cheque coming in.

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After quitting their dead-end jobs on the coast,

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rookie opal hunters Jaymin Sullivan, JC Caruana and Noah McDonough

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are hoping to hit the big time in the oldest opal field in Australia.

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We want the big opals this season.

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That's what we're here to do,

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it's what we're here to find, what we're here to get.

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They're hunting rare pineapple opal,

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only found in this area and worth

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up to half a million dollars apiece.

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But only two weeks in,

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the Young Guns are already struggling to survive.

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I think I've got $97 left.

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That's it.

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I promised the boys when they came here they were gonna make serious money,

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that we're guaranteed to find some good opal,

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and, you know, I've really got to deliver that.

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With JC and Noah new to opal mining,

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their whole operation relies on third generation opal miner, Jaymin,

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leading a team for the very first time.

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What's the plan? We've gotta expand our mine down there a little bit.

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Gotta dig in some new directions and find some new opal.

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So it seems our opal has run dry at the moment,

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which means we have to explore in different areas of the mine.

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We've got two jackhammers, so we can go in two different directions.

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Yeah. I'll keep digging the drive that I was digging,

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and you guys can dig a bit of a new area.

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See if we can get some more, fund another week.

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That's it.

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The mine is quite cramped at the moment,

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so, to expand that is going to be fantastic.

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We want to get our own drives happening in different areas

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so we're not crowded on top of each other.

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Enlarging the mine requires tons of dirt and rock to be dumped by hand,

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then dumped on the surface by a 20-year-old hoist.

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JAYMIN: The bucket holds a lot of weight.

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It's, you know, a very heavy piece of equipment.

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It's probably one of our most dangerous parts of the operation.

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Hey, Jay, I think the bucket's stuck.

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It's not coming down? Nah, it's stuck. Bloody hell.

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There's probably dirt stuck in the mechanism up there or something.

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Yeah, all righty. Well...

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I can't go up. Yeah, no, definitely don't go up the ladder

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if it's stuck, cos it could just come flying back down.

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It is a hundred percent dangerous to climb up the ladder

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if the bucket has got stuck, because if you're climbing up

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and then it comes down on top of you,

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it's going to probably result in a fatality.

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With no other way in or out of their mine,

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if they can't get the hoist moving, they'll be stranded ten metres down.

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Um, we'll see if we can get it to come back down.

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It's not moving. Nah.

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It's got stuck before, but it's always come good.

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It's coming down. It's coming. There you go.

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Thank God. You got it. Jesus!

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So that was a major issue. It just highlighted that we do need

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a different exit and entry to the mine,

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just for safety reasons.

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But without the machinery to dig the safety exit,

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Jaymin's plan is to connect to an existing mine shaft nearby.

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I don't think our diggings downstairs

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are too far off breaking into, possibly, this shaft.

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Before they tunnel through, they need to do a safety check.

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Maybe we can try and jerry rig something to send down there,

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have a bit of a look. JC: What's your idea?

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What have you got? Maybe we can tie Noah's phone

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to the end of a rope with a flashlight.

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That's genius. Pure genius.

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Mm-hm. Let me just lower it down and it should just spin around.

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Yeah. And just send it down.

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NOAH: Sweet. Well done.

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It's the shaft rover. All right, let's have a look.

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Look how good it works. That's pretty good. That's awesome.

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The walls are safe, but it's all shaft and no tunnels.

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So it doesn't look like there's much workings done,

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which means we've got more digging to do to get from where we are.

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But while we get that set up,

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we might as well check some of the other shafts in the area.

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OK, boss. The makeshift camera hoist

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will allow them to identify mines

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with good potential for future opal finds.

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So there is something like 50,000 shafts all over the field.

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Some can be a little bit hard to see.

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So it's very important to be aware

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what you're doing as you're walking around.

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We'll chuck it over this one and lower it down.

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Have a quick look.

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This thing works like a treat. That's so good.

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There's something in it. Do you need a ladder?

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I reckon we just chuck the thing down there.

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You sure? We'll see if we can get it just on the edge.

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It looks like there's some digging straight out.

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I'm going to go get this one. You got it? Yeah. Just throw it.

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You got it? Hey! Jesus!

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Do you need the rope? No, just pull this.

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How did you manage that? Jesus!

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Thank you. Jesus. Thank you.

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Oh, my hip.

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I thought I was gone,

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but within a few seconds,

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these boys were straight over there so, I kinda owe them my life.

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It's almost like watching one of your best mates die.

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That's really how serious it could have been.

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For team leader Jaymin, the near-fatal accident

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is a reminder of his responsibilities to the novice crew.

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I think there's a fine balance between

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us needing to find opal and pushing ourselves quite hard

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while still maintaining safety. If we can't do that,

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we might as well pack up and head home.

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500kms away, in Lightning Ridge...

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You OK to start her up? Yeah.

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Pete Cooke and his apprentice Sam Westra,

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are hunting Black Opal.

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And chasing their $50,000 season target

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with just one working digger,

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the archaic Steen Machine.

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Well, this is a bit of a prototype, this machine.

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It's all homemade and half-arsed,

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but it seems to be holding together and doing the job.

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The remotely-controlled Steen Machine

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allows them to dig the opal level

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from the safety of the surface. It's working well.

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We're filling the bucket up, putting it in the truck.

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It should only take a couple of buckets till we get the truck full,

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then get that in the town and wash it, see if there's any opal in it.

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In just his second season hunting opal,

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20-year-old Sam is badly in need of a good find.

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I have to be out opal mining, and I have to make money

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because, if I don't, I'm wasting my time.

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Is that jammed? SAM: Yeah, it's-it's not right.

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The arm won't go out any more.

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I'm not getting any response from the back.

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It's a case of, uh, "Houston, we've got a problem."

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Without the Steen Machine, Pete and Sam

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have no way of pulling dirt from their mine.

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They need to find a quick fix back at Pete's place.

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Well, Sam, we're between a rock and a hard place here, mate.

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It'll be a couple of weeks at least

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till we can get some parts to fix it.

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No, I can't afford to be sitting round.

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It's just chewing into my savings at the moment.

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Yeah. So, uh... I can hear what you're saying, mate.

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Obviously, we can't do anything with this until we get the parts.

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Well, we've got to find something to do, um...

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Look, I haven't found any money in 12 months.

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You know, how long can you sustain that?

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A bit of a wake-up call for me. Sam's just a young fellow.

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He hasn't got a lot behind him at this stage.

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I want to keep him here with me. If he can't make any money here,

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he'll leave and go to a real town and get a real job.

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I do have a mate

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who's been hassling me to wash some dirt for him.

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Yeah. It's going to be a bit of a pain to do,

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but with a chance of finding some opal and finding some money.

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At the end of the day, that's what we need.

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That's it. We need money to keep going.

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Their digger may be out of action,

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but Pete's $16,000, two-ton agitator wash plant isn't,

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and could hold the key to them making some hard cash.

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PETE: Not everyone has their own agitators set up.

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You've got to pay a lot of money to have one of those.

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Lightning Ridge opal forms between ten and 30 metres below ground

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in a layer of ancient clay.

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The clay has to be washed off before any opal can be seen.

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And, for that, you need an agitator.

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A kilometre outside town,

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Pete's mate Mitch McCabe has opal dirt he wants to wash.

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PETE: Mitch is a local ambulance officer.

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The claim he bought's a very shallow area.

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We can take a few loads for him and see if there's any more opal in it.

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What's going on? This is it? This is your little trench incline?

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Yeah, this is the one that I got close to town.

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So I've just been working through the old trenches here.

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I don't have any of the big machinery or excavators,

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I don't have diggers, so I need to up the ante,

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get the big machinery in, wash it all.

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That's how you find opal here.

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You need to wash everything in Lightning Ridge.

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Right, so that's the pile...

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That's the stuff I want to start washing. Let's work out a deal.

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You've got some opal to show me what's come out?

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Be interesting to see what rubs he's got.

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But, um, I don't think I'd do it less than 50:50.

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Yeah. Well, these are

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four little ones that I've sort of rubbed up. Oh, yeah?

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PETE: I like that little dark stone with the red flash on it.

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It's not bad, eh? Mm. The opal looks nice.

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It looks like good potential. Nice, dark body tone.

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Black opal. That's what we're here for, the real stuff.

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So what's your thinking on a deal?

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Well, I've paid for the claims.

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I've paid for the excavator to come in and do all the hard work. Mm.

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So you give me what you think's a fair deal.

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Well, I reckon, um...

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Pay for half the fuel and the agi... Yep.

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..and we go halves on the opal, 50:50.

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Yeah, I think that sounds pretty fair, mate. 50:50.

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OK, guys. Yeah.

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Bit of a make or break this one. Yeah.

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I really don't want to be pouring more money after this. Yeah.

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This is a big deal now. This is black opal.

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We need to bring in everything that we've got.

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$30,000 down and desperate to turn their fortunes around,

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Adam Piromanski and Cassidy Ricketts

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are travelling 1,000kms into the harsh Australian Outback.

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They're gambling their future on finding rare black opal

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worth over 500 times more than gold.

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Black opal, it's the king of the opal.

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With traditional opal, you find it, you've still got to find a buyer,

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but with black, consider it money in your hand.

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For us to find a brand-new deposit

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here in WA, that's gonna be huge.

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On a scouting trip several weeks earlier,

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they identified a site that could hold a fortune in black opal.

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This is the trip to find out if it's here or not.

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Adam and I, we're at a stage in our lives

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where we're saving up for weddings and babies,

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and these trips out here, they're not cheap.

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Adam's father Pete who led them here

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is convinced it contains black opal. We've got a lot of faith in Pete.

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He spent years out here, learning the land.

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If Pete is right, it would be the only black opal for 2,000kms.

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You want to believe what he says.

241
00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:20,999
But then you also know that he's a little bit spiritual

242
00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:24,399
and out of this world, so you're like, "Is it real or not?"

243
00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:28,079
To dig out the site, they're relying on a front-end loader

244
00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:31,159
that Pete has bought second-hand in Laverton,

245
00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:33,479
but that Adam and Cassidy haven't yet seen.

246
00:13:33,560 --> 00:13:35,159
The machine has to work

247
00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:37,719
cos there's no way we can really find out

248
00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:40,799
if there is black opal here in WA without that machine working.

249
00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:42,479
A lot's pending on it.

250
00:13:42,560 --> 00:13:46,319
With each day costing hundreds of dollars in lost earnings and fuel,

251
00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:50,679
Adam and Cassidy need to find black opal quickly.

252
00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:54,359
Let's see this machine that we've just spent ten hours driving for.

253
00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:04,599
I don't have much to say right now.

254
00:14:05,960 --> 00:14:09,079
This is it, eh? Yeah. A very powerful machine.

255
00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:12,159
I feel like everything needs to be fixed on this.

256
00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:17,519
Oh, a bit of tyre.

257
00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:20,319
Bit of the bucket's missing. Where? At the front.

258
00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:22,399
Oh, just weld a bit on. Oh.

259
00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:24,279
Right. I'm speechless.

260
00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:26,999
Time off work, the cost to be out here, it's all adding up.

261
00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:29,559
So, feeling pretty frustrated right now.

262
00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:33,199
I feel like it won't move because it looks like it's rusted together.

263
00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:37,079
I bought a machine, gave $500.

264
00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:39,199
It's a bit of good gear.

265
00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:41,959
Are we moving this today? I've got to get it running today,

266
00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:44,679
and then tomorrow I'll bring the truck in.

267
00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:47,159
Yep. We'll put it on the truck and take it back.

268
00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:49,239
Ah, it'll work. It'll work.

269
00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:51,639
What we need is...

270
00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:54,919
We needs some fuel. And then we can see if it works?

271
00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:57,519
Yeah. Then I'll start cranking it. It'll fire up.

272
00:14:57,600 --> 00:14:59,599
All right. OK.

273
00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:05,319
All right. Let's turn it over.

274
00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:08,399
Oh. Oh. Oh. It's stuck.

275
00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:11,679
Starter motor's stuck.

276
00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:19,039
The starter motor seems to be playing up.

277
00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:21,159
Just because it's old, um,

278
00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:23,279
personally, I think it's an advantage.

279
00:15:26,920 --> 00:15:28,919
Yeah. Look, if this doesn't get going,

280
00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:31,319
we're not gonna know if there is black opal there.

281
00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:34,199
This grinds us to a halt. I'm pretty much in the mindset

282
00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:37,239
where I've gotta head back to Perth and pick up another machine.

283
00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:38,919
We need to find another option.

284
00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:41,919
Even if we do have to throw a bit money into it.

285
00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:43,999
So we've been thinking that

286
00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:46,559
this has got a bit more work to get up and running.

287
00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:48,639
So it's a couple more days. Yeah.

288
00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:52,199
And I was thinking maybe I head back to Perth and pick up a digger

289
00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:54,679
to either do the work or assist with the work.

290
00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:59,599
Yeah, but... How much is it gonna cost?

291
00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:04,079
Um... Yeah, that's the thing. I'll make a few phone calls...

292
00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:08,119
Yeah? ..but it shouldn't cost us too much.

293
00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:11,079
So you want to go halves. Yeah.

294
00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:17,799
That's... Hang on, one more.

295
00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:22,679
All right, Dad. I think we need to go get that machine.

296
00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:26,119
All right. All right. Sounds good?

297
00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:28,839
Yeah. Great. Yeah. Let's do it. All right.

298
00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:33,199
It's a good heavy machine, the old Chamberlain.

299
00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:35,559
We own it. You know, it's not on hire.

300
00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:37,759
I'll get it going.

301
00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:42,519
It's crunch time now. We really need the digger.

302
00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:46,359
Adam's got to find that machine for us and bring it back

303
00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:48,559
cos we need to start digging.

304
00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:59,439
Oh. I think that ladder saved my life.

305
00:16:59,520 --> 00:17:03,759
In White Cliffs, rookie miner JC has had a near miss

306
00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:06,359
with a 15-metre-deep shaft.

307
00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:08,999
Hey! Jesus. Got me? Give us your hand. Give us your hand.

308
00:17:09,080 --> 00:17:11,519
How did you end up down there?

309
00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:14,119
I just went to chuck the ladder.

310
00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:15,999
Dude, I don't even know.

311
00:17:16,080 --> 00:17:17,879
That was very scary.

312
00:17:19,880 --> 00:17:23,439
As team leader, Jaymin is responsible for safety

313
00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:27,639
and has to report the incident to the lease owner, his father.

314
00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:29,919
I'm under a lot of pressure from Dad

315
00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:32,039
to make sure that we're mining safely.

316
00:17:32,120 --> 00:17:36,119
If he shut us down, it'd be the end of things for a good, long time.

317
00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:39,559
Hey, Jay, how you going? Yeah.

318
00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:42,799
Had like a little bit of a near-miss.

319
00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:45,439
Yeah. Yeah. What happened? JC, like, slipped

320
00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:48,359
and nearly went, uh, down a hole.

321
00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:52,399
Is he all right? Yeah. No, he's all right now.

322
00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:55,559
You're gonna have to keep an eye on these boys, Jay.

323
00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:59,159
It's your responsibility. I can't be watching over yous all the time.

324
00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:01,479
So, you know, tell him to get serious

325
00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:03,759
or, you know, they can ship out.

326
00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:07,559
You know, while we're all young adults,

327
00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:09,319
we still have to heed Dad's advice

328
00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:12,079
because we are using some of his machinery.

329
00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:14,399
And, you know, he can shut us down if he decides,

330
00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:16,399
you know, he doesn't like what he sees.

331
00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:19,879
Before JC's fall, the boys had been working on a plan

332
00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:23,439
to connect two mine shafts to improve safety.

333
00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:27,759
So connecting these two shafts, um, that's gonna be a great opportunity

334
00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:30,799
for all of us to even prove to Dad as well that we can be safe

335
00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:34,599
and that we can work together without any major dramas.

336
00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:36,679
We can do that. We can...

337
00:18:38,120 --> 00:18:41,839
Time for me to prove after my spill that I can work safely.

338
00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:43,919
To connect the two mine shafts,

339
00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:47,319
the boys will have to dig through five metres of hard ground...

340
00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:50,959
We're just gonna continue our tunnel straight along there.

341
00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:53,439
..shifting around ten tons of rubble.

342
00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:05,239
Oh, looks like we've broken through to something.

343
00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:08,519
You through? We're through! Wahey!

344
00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:13,359
Oh, I can see a bit of daylight coming down the actual shaft.

345
00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:16,759
We've got a lot of dirt to move, that's for sure.

346
00:19:16,840 --> 00:19:20,679
If you bust into a mine and there's a shaft above

347
00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:23,159
where you've been digging and that's full of dirt,

348
00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:25,719
that could just let go and that could fall down on you.

349
00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:28,799
It's very dangerous to work under backfilled mine shafts.

350
00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:33,599
We haven't actually hit the shaft, it's about a metre or two

351
00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:36,479
a little bit further up, so we've got a few tons of dirt.

352
00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:39,559
It's gonna take us quite a while just to shift all that dirt.

353
00:19:45,280 --> 00:19:48,519
It's pretty tight up there, but I'm gonna try and crawl through

354
00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:50,599
and see what we can see up there.

355
00:19:55,760 --> 00:19:58,319
Boys, we have a lot of dirt to dig out.

356
00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:03,679
Hey! I've found a bit of opal!

357
00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:08,039
Look at that!

358
00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:15,199
I was just crawling up through that dirt,

359
00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:18,679
clawing away and coming up and it's just sitting right there.

360
00:20:24,080 --> 00:20:25,999
I want to smash a couple of trucks in.

361
00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:27,759
I'd like to get two in the one day.

362
00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:29,919
This is our time and fuel we're burning.

363
00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:32,319
We're taking a gamble on someone else's dirt.

364
00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:36,159
In Lightning Ridge, in need of cash,

365
00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:39,559
Pete and Sam are teaming up with local miner Mitch

366
00:20:39,640 --> 00:20:44,239
to wash the clay from his diggings for a half share of any opal found.

367
00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:48,759
If we don't get any opal in this wash,

368
00:20:48,840 --> 00:20:51,599
we've wasted our time, money and energy.

369
00:20:51,680 --> 00:20:54,679
Fourth gear. Full speed ahead. All good.

370
00:20:55,720 --> 00:20:59,399
Their first challenge - with Mitch's mine a kilometre away,

371
00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:02,839
they need to get their truck and 17-tonne excavator

372
00:21:02,920 --> 00:21:05,719
through the centre of town to collect his diggings.

373
00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:09,799
The Road Runner, that's the nickname for my new excavator.

374
00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:11,919
Most excavators run on steel tracks.

375
00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:14,319
You can't drive them on the road.

376
00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:16,679
I'm gonna need a licence to get to drive

377
00:21:16,760 --> 00:21:19,359
a 20-ton excavator down the main street.

378
00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:21,239
This one's on truck wheels,

379
00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:24,199
so that means it's very versatile.

380
00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:26,679
This thing probably does 40K's.

381
00:21:26,760 --> 00:21:29,439
I'm gonna have to watch out for the speed lines here.

382
00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:35,239
You could do nothing, just hit the pub and go broke,

383
00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:37,359
or you can have a go at washing some dirt.

384
00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:41,919
This is Mitch's, isn't it? Yeah, that's it, mate.

385
00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:48,199
We're hoping for as much as we can get out of this wash,

386
00:21:48,280 --> 00:21:50,399
cos we still get 50 percent of it.

387
00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:55,119
We're just getting these trucks loaded as quick as we can.

388
00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:57,319
Every minute that we're here,

389
00:21:57,400 --> 00:22:00,319
it's costing us diesel and costing us our time.

390
00:22:01,360 --> 00:22:03,559
Righty-o. I reckon that's about full, Pete.

391
00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:08,999
Another day in paradise. That's it, mate.

392
00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:12,279
Pete and Sam want to get the first load washed

393
00:22:12,360 --> 00:22:14,839
in their agitator as quickly as possible...

394
00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:18,359
That's all of it. That's one load in the agi.

395
00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:20,919
..so that by the time they return from the mine,

396
00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:23,119
it will be ready for the next load.

397
00:22:27,640 --> 00:22:29,319
All right, that's full? Yeah.

398
00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:31,399
I'll follow you back. Yeah.

399
00:22:40,680 --> 00:22:42,679
That'll do.

400
00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:52,359
No. That hasn't gone down much.

401
00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:54,559
No? She's still pretty full?

402
00:22:54,640 --> 00:22:58,119
The first load is still thick with hardened mud.

403
00:22:58,200 --> 00:23:01,079
We're gonna have to let it go all night before we'll get that in.

404
00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:04,559
This dirt's hard as a cat's head. Yeah. It's behaving different.

405
00:23:04,640 --> 00:23:07,239
You just have to deal with it. It's gonna take longer.

406
00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:11,439
So we got these cameras here set up.

407
00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:15,559
We can watch these from in town on our phones or on the TV.

408
00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:17,719
Saves us coming out every hour.

409
00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:21,799
To increase their chances of spotting any opal

410
00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:25,399
during the clean-up, Pete is working on a new invention.

411
00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:28,199
It's a vibrating screen, so we put the tailings

412
00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:29,879
from our agitator in the top.

413
00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:32,439
Small stuff goes through a five-mil mesh

414
00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:34,719
into the wheelbarrow to be discarded.

415
00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:37,159
This stuff goes into a bulk bag,

416
00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:39,399
which then goes into the tailing out room.

417
00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:42,559
This is basically to make our job easier.

418
00:23:42,640 --> 00:23:45,879
The Shincracker Shaker, we've called this one.

419
00:23:45,960 --> 00:23:49,079
Just hook on those front two lugs. I'll just drag it back.

420
00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:51,759
Otherwise, you won't get the wheelbarrow in. Yeah.

421
00:23:56,800 --> 00:23:58,919
Oh! Oh, no!

422
00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:06,879
After about 22 hours of driving,

423
00:24:06,960 --> 00:24:10,519
I'm pretty relieved that we've got a piece of machinery

424
00:24:10,600 --> 00:24:12,599
to do the work that we need to do.

425
00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:16,119
Already $30,000 down,

426
00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:20,559
the Fire Crew have had to spend more money hiring a digger

427
00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:24,279
needed to start their hunt for legendary black opal

428
00:24:24,360 --> 00:24:27,839
worth over 500 times more than gold.

429
00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:31,119
We've spent three grand on this machine that we didn't budget for,

430
00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:34,639
so if there wasn't pressure already to find black opal, there is now.

431
00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:38,599
Dad's not going to be super impressed with the money we had to lay out for this digger,

432
00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:42,679
but I wasn't super impressed with the condition of Dad's machine.

433
00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:44,839
Adams prospector dad Pete

434
00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:47,999
has been banking on a third-hand front-end loader

435
00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:52,879
he recently purchased for $500 to deliver the muscle they need.

436
00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:55,839
But, so far, it's not moving an inch.

437
00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:02,639
Where'd you find this? I found it lying around

438
00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:05,159
That is shiny and new.

439
00:25:05,240 --> 00:25:07,359
So what will it cost?

440
00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:10,599
Cost us about three grand and that was a mate's rate.

441
00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:14,559
Mate's rates? Just three grand, boom,

442
00:25:14,640 --> 00:25:17,759
extra like that, we didn't budget for.

443
00:25:17,840 --> 00:25:20,519
How's your machine going? Uh, yeah.

444
00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:22,839
I'm having a few issues with that. Yeah, OK.

445
00:25:22,920 --> 00:25:24,919
Trying to get the fuel to the injectors.

446
00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:27,959
Yeah, OK. So, uh... I'll get it going.

447
00:25:28,040 --> 00:25:30,759
Look, we've already been out here for way too long.

448
00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:32,879
We haven't produced anything.

449
00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:35,799
We've got to cop that on the chin and we've gotta get moving.

450
00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:38,479
This trailer's not gonna make it through this country.

451
00:25:38,560 --> 00:25:41,239
That's right. Use the truck.

452
00:25:43,360 --> 00:25:46,679
I've gotta race into town and try and get that other digger working.

453
00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:50,799
I've gotta leave Adam to try and load the machine onto the truck.

454
00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:02,599
Woo!

455
00:26:02,680 --> 00:26:04,679
You stoked? Yeah, I'm pretty happy.

456
00:26:04,760 --> 00:26:07,279
That's good. Let's go!

457
00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:16,039
Hey, Jay! Yeah?

458
00:26:16,120 --> 00:26:18,119
I think we're done.

459
00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:22,959
Ten metres underground, with only one way in and out of their mine,

460
00:26:23,040 --> 00:26:27,719
rookies Jaymin, JC and Noah are tunnelling

461
00:26:27,800 --> 00:26:30,919
to an abandoned mine shaft to make an escape route,

462
00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:33,399
should their main entrance get blocked again.

463
00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:35,959
JC's just shovelling out the last of the dirt now,

464
00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:38,359
and we'll have our second escape route.

465
00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:41,679
Check it out! We've officially connected to the shafts.

466
00:26:41,760 --> 00:26:43,959
We'll just have to do a bit of digging at the top

467
00:26:44,040 --> 00:26:46,679
and put the ladder into place, and we've got two ways

468
00:26:46,760 --> 00:26:49,359
in and out of the mine, which is absolutely fantastic.

469
00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:52,839
We cleared out the tunnel underneath.

470
00:26:52,920 --> 00:26:56,039
We can get through there. It's time to clean up some of this top here.

471
00:26:56,120 --> 00:26:58,799
If you look at it, you can see some of those dangerous rocks

472
00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:00,879
hanging right on the lip of the shaft there.

473
00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:03,879
We want to get rid of those, cos if we're standing under the shaft

474
00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:06,239
and one of those falls down, that could be deadly.

475
00:27:06,320 --> 00:27:08,399
Let's get harnessed up. Let's do it.

476
00:27:10,840 --> 00:27:14,239
We're going to all the lengths now to ensure safety.

477
00:27:14,320 --> 00:27:16,399
While we dig this shaft out here,

478
00:27:16,480 --> 00:27:18,719
I'm going to be harnessed up and anchored

479
00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:21,319
and that way, nothing can really go wrong.

480
00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:23,759
That will keep you safe. Definitely? Yeah.

481
00:27:23,840 --> 00:27:26,439
I'm putting my trust in you, dude. All right.

482
00:27:27,640 --> 00:27:29,639
Let's dig.

483
00:27:30,800 --> 00:27:32,879
At the moment, the boys are working together

484
00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:34,959
to clear the top of the shaft there

485
00:27:35,040 --> 00:27:37,199
in preparation for lowering down the ladder.

486
00:27:37,280 --> 00:27:40,879
We just want a nice, flat edge to be able to set that ladder on.

487
00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:44,799
It is a little bit of a test for those guys to work safely together.

488
00:27:44,880 --> 00:27:46,999
After JC almost fell down a hole,

489
00:27:47,080 --> 00:27:49,079
Jaymin came down hard on us.

490
00:27:49,160 --> 00:27:51,279
He feels probably a bit responsible for us.

491
00:27:51,360 --> 00:27:53,839
We've got Noah watching over JC

492
00:27:53,920 --> 00:27:55,559
to make sure he's being safe.

493
00:27:55,640 --> 00:27:58,679
So basically, Noah's doing while I dig.

494
00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:00,759
Good plan. It's a good plan

495
00:28:08,840 --> 00:28:10,999
Ah! oh!

496
00:28:11,080 --> 00:28:13,719
Wrecked it before I've even used it. Good on me

497
00:28:13,800 --> 00:28:15,839
Righty-o, try that.

498
00:28:15,920 --> 00:28:18,759
After a series of delays and breakdowns,

499
00:28:18,840 --> 00:28:21,519
Pete and Sam have built a sorting machine

500
00:28:21,600 --> 00:28:24,479
they hope will almost halve the time it takes

501
00:28:24,560 --> 00:28:28,359
to process their pay dirt and get their season back on track.

502
00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:30,639
We've got to come up with something else

503
00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:32,879
to keep the money going.

504
00:28:32,960 --> 00:28:35,639
If the dirt washes down well enough in the agi,

505
00:28:35,720 --> 00:28:37,839
then we can get tailing out.

506
00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:42,759
But, 3kms away, their agitator wash plant is still struggling to clean

507
00:28:42,840 --> 00:28:45,439
the unusually hard earth from the diggings.

508
00:28:48,520 --> 00:28:52,639
Oh, no! Pete, the agi's stopped going.

509
00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:55,439
On the cameras, the barrel's not going around any more.

510
00:28:55,520 --> 00:28:59,279
She's not going. We'll have to go and see what's going on. All right.

511
00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:01,879
We'll take the buggy out. We'll take the shortcut.

512
00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:07,879
Hopefully, it's just out of fuel.

513
00:29:07,960 --> 00:29:10,399
Yeah, well, if the engine's stopped,

514
00:29:10,480 --> 00:29:13,479
it's not just the barrel, so it kinda spat a chain.

515
00:29:13,560 --> 00:29:15,559
As long as the agi isn't wrecked.

516
00:29:23,800 --> 00:29:26,999
No! It's not...not good.

517
00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:31,199
There'll be a few hours cleaning this up

518
00:29:31,280 --> 00:29:34,319
before we can get running again. We've got to keep it going.

519
00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:36,679
It's got dirt in it, we gotta wash it and get it out.

520
00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:39,959
That's the whole idea. It's done what it's meant to do.

521
00:29:40,040 --> 00:29:43,879
We've got the hard dirt to finally start turning to mud.

522
00:29:43,960 --> 00:29:47,679
The agi's job is to wash away all the clay dirt

523
00:29:47,760 --> 00:29:49,959
until all that's left are stones

524
00:29:50,040 --> 00:29:54,799
and, if they're lucky, a few pieces of priceless black opal.

525
00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:57,479
But it's got too thick, and hasn't been able

526
00:29:57,560 --> 00:29:59,879
to get away underneath the agi frame.

527
00:30:01,280 --> 00:30:04,559
We've got this diesel-powered pressure washer.

528
00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:08,599
You need two hands to hang on. It's got a heap of power.

529
00:30:16,440 --> 00:30:18,239
We don't have much choice.

530
00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:20,559
We've got to get this thing up and running again,

531
00:30:20,640 --> 00:30:23,159
finish washing this dirt down so we can tail it out.

532
00:30:25,320 --> 00:30:27,759
A bit of house cleaning, I suppose you'd call it.

533
00:30:32,840 --> 00:30:34,839
Righto. There we go, that's it.

534
00:30:34,920 --> 00:30:36,919
They've lost valuable time,

535
00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:40,719
but the agi has washed enough stones to begin processing.

536
00:30:40,800 --> 00:30:44,159
Me and Pete have bought these bulk bags.

537
00:30:44,240 --> 00:30:47,759
We'll put it at the agi and reverse it out,

538
00:30:47,840 --> 00:30:50,239
and put them in these bags and take them into town.

539
00:30:51,440 --> 00:30:53,679
Ready for all the gems to come out.

540
00:30:58,720 --> 00:31:00,519
We got some heat moving.

541
00:31:01,600 --> 00:31:03,599
Hopefully, it stays there. Yeah.

542
00:31:03,680 --> 00:31:08,159
Four days behind schedule on their hunt for legendary black opal,

543
00:31:08,240 --> 00:31:12,759
Adam and Cassidy are racing to get their rental digger to the dig site

544
00:31:12,840 --> 00:31:15,039
in Pete's modified truck.

545
00:31:16,120 --> 00:31:19,719
So the issue that we had was that the front brakes were locked on.

546
00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:22,079
Directed by that, we took the brakes off.

547
00:31:22,160 --> 00:31:24,839
So, I feel sorry

548
00:31:24,920 --> 00:31:26,719
for any kangaroo that gets in the way.

549
00:31:27,800 --> 00:31:30,039
This trip is probably gonna be our toughest yet.

550
00:31:30,120 --> 00:31:32,159
We're working with heavy machinery now.

551
00:31:32,240 --> 00:31:35,239
We've got a limited amount of funds, a limited amount of time.

552
00:31:35,320 --> 00:31:38,879
It's going to test our character, it's going to test our patience.

553
00:31:38,960 --> 00:31:42,279
There is a real risk coming out here, not finding anything,

554
00:31:42,360 --> 00:31:45,799
but the payoff is so phenomenal that you'd be mad not to.

555
00:31:45,880 --> 00:31:48,319
Uh-uh. Ooh!

556
00:31:48,400 --> 00:31:51,599
There goes the mirror. Don't need that. Don't need it.

557
00:31:53,840 --> 00:31:56,239
This is it. This is the turn-off.

558
00:31:56,320 --> 00:31:58,399
We made it.

559
00:31:58,480 --> 00:32:01,159
We made it. Yeah. Here's the dig site.

560
00:32:02,240 --> 00:32:04,239
There's the ramp.

561
00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:12,719
We did it. We're already way behind schedule. Yeah.

562
00:32:12,800 --> 00:32:16,119
Way over budget. We better get this thing off and start digging.

563
00:32:16,200 --> 00:32:18,199
Yeah, it's about to get real.

564
00:32:20,040 --> 00:32:23,119
We're back here, where Pete's seen the trace.

565
00:32:23,200 --> 00:32:25,199
A lot of cleaning up to be done.

566
00:32:25,280 --> 00:32:28,919
Adam's gonna move this dirt so we can get back down that hole there.

567
00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:31,159
The hole is where the team found

568
00:32:31,240 --> 00:32:33,959
signs of black opal on their last trip

569
00:32:34,040 --> 00:32:37,239
worth up to $43,000 a gram.

570
00:32:37,320 --> 00:32:40,279
Black opal is the most valuable opal on the planet

571
00:32:40,360 --> 00:32:44,319
and there's no other deposit within 2,000kms.

572
00:32:44,400 --> 00:32:45,999
It's definitely a game-changer,

573
00:32:46,080 --> 00:32:48,599
finding black opal out here and striking it big.

574
00:32:48,680 --> 00:32:50,679
Black opal would just set us up.

575
00:32:50,760 --> 00:32:52,839
It would be money in the bank straightaway.

576
00:32:52,920 --> 00:32:56,639
But opal thieves or ratters are known to shadow miners

577
00:32:56,720 --> 00:33:00,319
and, at night, could clean out the Fire Crew's entire claim.

578
00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:02,599
Adam, look! Keys!

579
00:33:06,720 --> 00:33:08,999
Someone's in a tenement where they shouldn't be.

580
00:33:19,560 --> 00:33:21,559
What's going on?

581
00:33:21,640 --> 00:33:24,079
This is all under tenement under here.

582
00:33:24,160 --> 00:33:28,199
So, I was making sure you guys weren't doing something you weren't supposed to be.

583
00:33:28,280 --> 00:33:30,959
Prospecting? Yeah. Oh, you just travelled through

584
00:33:31,040 --> 00:33:34,199
and are having a quick squeeze? We're on our way to Uluru.

585
00:33:34,280 --> 00:33:36,719
Ah, cool. Well, have a safe trip.

586
00:33:36,800 --> 00:33:39,439
Hope you don't have any dramas. See ya.

587
00:33:39,520 --> 00:33:41,959
People on your claim, that's a big no-no.

588
00:33:42,040 --> 00:33:44,279
It's against the law for them to be on your claim,

589
00:33:44,360 --> 00:33:47,519
but they're just passing through, so, I've got no dramas with that.

590
00:33:47,600 --> 00:33:49,839
I wanted to make sure I knew what they were doing.

591
00:33:49,920 --> 00:33:52,479
Just two families - All right. ..passing through.

592
00:33:54,640 --> 00:33:56,639
Look at you go, you pro.

593
00:33:59,360 --> 00:34:01,839
You know what I'm thinking? What?

594
00:34:01,920 --> 00:34:04,119
We need to buy one of these. Yeah.

595
00:34:06,000 --> 00:34:10,439
Eight years ago, Adam's father found signs of black opal here,

596
00:34:10,520 --> 00:34:12,439
six feet underground.

597
00:34:13,520 --> 00:34:16,719
Adam is desperate to find the same seam.

598
00:34:20,720 --> 00:34:23,319
Look at that. Oh, look who's just showed up.

599
00:34:23,400 --> 00:34:25,439
Mum is the bean counter.

600
00:34:25,520 --> 00:34:27,719
She will say, "Yes, that is doable,"

601
00:34:27,800 --> 00:34:30,239
or, "No, you're not doing that."

602
00:34:30,320 --> 00:34:32,839
I thought we weren't gonna bring this machine out.

603
00:34:32,920 --> 00:34:35,319
I thought it was gonna be too costly.

604
00:34:35,400 --> 00:34:37,639
What we're trying to do is do a low-cost,

605
00:34:37,720 --> 00:34:40,679
viable way of opal hunting.

606
00:34:40,760 --> 00:34:44,079
Adam and Cass have just hired a little mini excavator.

607
00:34:44,160 --> 00:34:45,879
Way out of our budget.

608
00:34:45,960 --> 00:34:49,479
This is day four. This is the first bit of digging we've had done.

609
00:34:49,560 --> 00:34:51,919
I know, but I don't like outlaying

610
00:34:52,000 --> 00:34:54,199
a lot of money for digging out opal. I know.

611
00:34:54,280 --> 00:34:56,879
It's making it high-risk. I don't like high-risk.

612
00:35:00,200 --> 00:35:03,199
How good does that piece look? Yeah. That's the trace.

613
00:35:03,280 --> 00:35:06,359
That's thick. Thick black trace in the rubble

614
00:35:06,440 --> 00:35:09,679
is an indicator that a seam of priceless black opal

615
00:35:09,760 --> 00:35:11,759
could be nearby.

616
00:35:11,840 --> 00:35:15,079
Holy... What? Look at this.

617
00:35:15,160 --> 00:35:17,639
Oh, my God! Look how thick it is. Oh, my...

618
00:35:17,720 --> 00:35:20,199
Oh! Look at that.

619
00:35:20,280 --> 00:35:23,919
Ooh! Look at that! Oh, my God! Look how thick it is.

620
00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:27,559
Holy moly! That was... That was Cassie.

621
00:35:27,640 --> 00:35:29,719
The size of that trace,

622
00:35:29,800 --> 00:35:32,039
and that colour, just being just black,

623
00:35:32,120 --> 00:35:33,999
really, really exciting stuff.

624
00:35:34,080 --> 00:35:36,679
Just gonna follow the thread. Keep pulling and pulling

625
00:35:36,760 --> 00:35:39,239
until we find the end, which hopefully will be colour.

626
00:35:39,320 --> 00:35:42,559
If the trace leads to a large pocket of black opal,

627
00:35:42,640 --> 00:35:44,719
they could be digging up a fortune.

628
00:35:44,800 --> 00:35:47,119
That's what we came here for.

629
00:35:47,200 --> 00:35:49,239
When you find it, that rush... Yeah.

630
00:35:49,320 --> 00:35:51,359
That feeling you get.. It's like no other.

631
00:35:51,440 --> 00:35:53,639
You want it again and again. Good!

632
00:36:01,320 --> 00:36:05,159
All right? Good. Ready for a big day of tailing out? Yeah.

633
00:36:05,240 --> 00:36:08,879
Pete and Sam are about to begin sorting the washed stones

634
00:36:08,960 --> 00:36:11,079
from fellow miner Mitch's dirt

635
00:36:11,160 --> 00:36:13,599
with Pete's latest invention.

636
00:36:13,680 --> 00:36:15,719
PETE: The Shincracker Shaker, mate.

637
00:36:19,280 --> 00:36:21,319
SAM: Oh, yeah. The moment of truth.

638
00:36:21,400 --> 00:36:25,319
The shaker removes particles too small to have any value,

639
00:36:25,400 --> 00:36:28,959
leaving just the rocks large enough to contain good opal.

640
00:36:29,040 --> 00:36:33,279
There's no decent-sized particles getting through that screen.

641
00:36:33,360 --> 00:36:36,239
Basically, it's just made it a bit easier to search through.

642
00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:37,919
Coming in, fellas.

643
00:36:38,000 --> 00:36:42,079
Their deal with Mitch is they'll get half of anything they find.

644
00:36:42,160 --> 00:36:45,879
This is the part where you find out whether the hard work was worth it.

645
00:36:54,080 --> 00:36:56,919
Mm, it's a nice colour. It's a bit better.

646
00:36:57,000 --> 00:36:59,079
Got some nice red on black,

647
00:36:59,160 --> 00:37:01,559
a bit of yellow in it, orange, gold...

648
00:37:04,600 --> 00:37:06,679
Nice, big-sized knobby.

649
00:37:06,760 --> 00:37:08,959
Well, we've got a little grey knobby

650
00:37:09,040 --> 00:37:12,639
with a bit of greeny gold in there.

651
00:37:12,720 --> 00:37:15,159
There's a few chips that show good potential.

652
00:37:15,240 --> 00:37:17,839
I've gotta go back to work. The boys are gonna rub

653
00:37:17,920 --> 00:37:21,679
a few of the extra stones down and hopefully value-add to our parcel.

654
00:37:21,760 --> 00:37:23,399
All right. Good day.

655
00:37:23,480 --> 00:37:25,479
Alright. No worries. All right, mate.

656
00:37:25,560 --> 00:37:27,559
OK, let's pack it up.

657
00:37:27,640 --> 00:37:31,839
Rubbing the best of the rough stones could triple their sale value.

658
00:37:31,920 --> 00:37:34,199
Some of these stones cut,

659
00:37:34,280 --> 00:37:35,879
it will increase the value

660
00:37:35,960 --> 00:37:39,559
and hopefully get a bit more than just covering the cost.

661
00:37:39,640 --> 00:37:43,519
But, if they make a mistake, they could ruin the opal.

662
00:37:43,600 --> 00:37:46,359
Did a cutting course

663
00:37:46,440 --> 00:37:49,439
down here to learn the basics.

664
00:37:49,520 --> 00:37:51,319
We've cut a few of our own stones,

665
00:37:51,400 --> 00:37:56,039
but we haven't been finding enough opal to be cutting too many.

666
00:37:56,120 --> 00:37:59,599
He's learning how to weld, he's learning how to problem-solve.

667
00:37:59,680 --> 00:38:01,799
Sam's going ahead in leaps and bounds.

668
00:38:17,800 --> 00:38:20,519
They're the best three that have come up.

669
00:38:24,840 --> 00:38:27,039
That one's nice. I like that.

670
00:38:27,120 --> 00:38:30,359
I reckon that's near eight hundred bucks on its own, isn't it?

671
00:38:30,440 --> 00:38:32,159
You'd ask a thousand? Yeah.

672
00:38:32,240 --> 00:38:34,439
And go down a little bit perhaps? Yeah.

673
00:38:34,520 --> 00:38:37,119
That's a lovely little stone, that one.

674
00:38:37,200 --> 00:38:39,879
I reckon there's a couple of grand in those three stones.

675
00:38:39,960 --> 00:38:42,479
We've got that bucket still with all that rough in it.

676
00:38:42,560 --> 00:38:44,639
Yeah. Probably still worth $1,500 there?

677
00:38:44,720 --> 00:38:46,799
I still think we'll get 1,500, so...

678
00:38:46,880 --> 00:38:49,279
What's that coming to, $3,500?

679
00:38:49,360 --> 00:38:52,319
For contract washing, it's not bad when it's not our own dirt.

680
00:38:52,400 --> 00:38:54,919
Yeah. I think we're doing pretty well to get that.

681
00:38:55,000 --> 00:38:56,719
Their three polished stones

682
00:38:56,800 --> 00:39:00,159
are a mix of black and lighter crystal opal.

683
00:39:00,240 --> 00:39:04,959
With the 5kg bucket of rough, that's an estimated total of...

684
00:39:09,320 --> 00:39:11,399
First couple of jobs for the season

685
00:39:11,480 --> 00:39:13,199
we found a bit of opal.

686
00:39:13,280 --> 00:39:14,959
But, um, it's not a lot of money.

687
00:39:15,040 --> 00:39:18,759
I could keep myself going on this, but it's not why I'm here.

688
00:39:18,840 --> 00:39:21,759
I'm here to find big opal, to make it all worth it.

689
00:39:21,840 --> 00:39:24,919
You've got to be a born optimist to be an opal miner.

690
00:39:25,000 --> 00:39:27,799
You've got to hope for the best and just deal with the worst.

691
00:39:27,880 --> 00:39:30,279
You know, we're looking for millions. Course we are.

692
00:39:30,360 --> 00:39:32,479
That's what we're here for, the big bucks.

693
00:39:42,240 --> 00:39:45,559
That's it. That's our goal complete. Yeah. Back to mining.

694
00:39:45,640 --> 00:39:47,639
With their escape ladder installed,

695
00:39:47,720 --> 00:39:49,919
the Young Guns can finally start searching

696
00:39:50,000 --> 00:39:52,599
for the opal payday they badly need.

697
00:39:52,680 --> 00:39:55,279
We've got enough money for,

698
00:39:55,360 --> 00:39:58,759
you know, a few more jerries' worth of petrol to keep us digging.

699
00:39:58,840 --> 00:40:00,439
That's everything I've got.

700
00:40:00,520 --> 00:40:02,799
You know, out here, everything's very hard.

701
00:40:02,880 --> 00:40:05,119
You know, and we're struggling for food.

702
00:40:06,880 --> 00:40:08,759
Look... Hey, take that out.

703
00:40:09,760 --> 00:40:12,359
You see stuff? Yeah, right. Right there.

704
00:40:12,440 --> 00:40:14,679
Look at that. Whoa!

705
00:40:14,760 --> 00:40:17,199
Yeah, look, it goes all up there. Oh!

706
00:40:18,400 --> 00:40:20,199
We've got stuff.

707
00:40:20,280 --> 00:40:22,839
We've got opal! Yeah, look at that.

708
00:40:22,920 --> 00:40:24,999
Yeah. Wow.

709
00:40:25,080 --> 00:40:27,959
Woo-wee! We might actually have some good opal here.

710
00:40:28,040 --> 00:40:30,519
Oh, here we go. Look. You've got a bit? Look at that.

711
00:40:30,600 --> 00:40:33,039
Woo! Yeah, I mean, hopefully this will get me

712
00:40:33,120 --> 00:40:35,359
a good schnitzel and a beer at the pub.

713
00:40:35,440 --> 00:40:37,999
That's what keeps me going, really, to be honest.

714
00:40:39,880 --> 00:40:43,879
Let's go check out if we've got anything worthwhile in itself.

715
00:40:45,120 --> 00:40:47,199
So how much you boys reckon is in there?

716
00:40:47,280 --> 00:40:51,439
I'm gonna say at least 1500.

717
00:40:51,520 --> 00:40:53,839
15? 1500? Jeez! Yeah.

718
00:40:54,920 --> 00:40:57,039
Be good if it was five.

719
00:41:00,240 --> 00:41:02,439
The clay-covered opal shards

720
00:41:02,520 --> 00:41:04,759
are put in a container with some water

721
00:41:04,840 --> 00:41:09,119
and placed on a homemade tumbler to wash away the dirt.

722
00:41:11,680 --> 00:41:13,559
# They see me rollin'

723
00:41:13,640 --> 00:41:15,439
# They hatin' #

724
00:41:15,520 --> 00:41:18,799
We'll check back tomorrow morning and see who's right.

725
00:41:18,880 --> 00:41:21,839
When I'm right, you can buy me a beer.

726
00:41:21,920 --> 00:41:25,239
It's on. I like the confidence. It's on, mate.

727
00:41:32,840 --> 00:41:34,919
See what we've got.

728
00:41:35,000 --> 00:41:37,599
I'll let you do the honours there.

729
00:41:41,600 --> 00:41:43,599
Oh, here it comes.

730
00:41:48,000 --> 00:41:50,519
Oh, you did find some. Look at that. That's... Jeez!

731
00:41:50,600 --> 00:41:52,599
There's heaps! Covered in mud. Look at it.

732
00:41:52,680 --> 00:41:55,279
Oh! That's nice. Look at these crystal bits.

733
00:41:55,360 --> 00:41:58,599
Oh, look at that colour. It's actually a lot more than I thought.

734
00:42:05,080 --> 00:42:07,479
Hey, Graeme. We have some more opal for you.

735
00:42:07,560 --> 00:42:10,599
Just to value, though. We're not trying to sell it to you this time.

736
00:42:10,680 --> 00:42:15,039
So a good, honest evaluation would definitely be helpful.

737
00:42:18,440 --> 00:42:20,799
Oh, that looks really nice.

738
00:42:20,880 --> 00:42:23,879
I mean, it's still not quite thick material,

739
00:42:23,960 --> 00:42:27,359
but I tell you what, this is actually in demand.

740
00:42:27,440 --> 00:42:29,519
This is, um, inlay material.

741
00:42:30,800 --> 00:42:33,919
I think today you've got...

742
00:42:36,280 --> 00:42:39,439
..at least two grand in this stuff.

743
00:42:40,480 --> 00:42:43,079
Yeah. Woo! Looks like I owe you a beer.

744
00:42:43,160 --> 00:42:46,599
You owe me a beer, buddy. Well done, fellas. Awesome.

745
00:42:46,680 --> 00:42:49,399
Their opal is crystal opal.

746
00:42:49,480 --> 00:42:51,239
It's in the rough.

747
00:42:51,320 --> 00:42:52,919
There's 41 grams of it,

748
00:42:53,000 --> 00:42:54,599
making it worth...

749
00:42:55,840 --> 00:42:57,439
Now it seems like it's paying off,

750
00:42:57,520 --> 00:42:59,319
I'm really excited about that now.

751
00:43:01,120 --> 00:43:03,239
I'm ecstatic I came out here.

752
00:43:03,320 --> 00:43:05,039
Feel like it's a bit of a calling.

753
00:43:05,120 --> 00:43:08,319
I'm definitely proud of the boys. We've had our dramas this week,

754
00:43:08,400 --> 00:43:12,079
but, I think we've all learned from everything that's happened.

755
00:43:12,160 --> 00:43:15,279
It's just one more step to us becoming successful miners.

756
00:43:40,920 --> 00:43:42,919
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756
00:43:43,305 --> 00:44:43,680
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